Birdnesting as a Creative Solution in Illinois Divorce

 Posted on September 18, 2024 in Child Custody

When parents go through a divorce, it can take a serious toll on the family - financially, emotionally, and even logistically. With spouses scrambling to figure out where they each will live and how new accommodations might affect their children, it is no wonder that tensions can run high. While there are typical arrangements that most families work towards, all people are different so one solution will never be the right answer for everyone. In divorce, as in all areas of life, it can help to think creatively to come up with a solution that could suit your family’s unique needs. If you and your spouse are willing to work together to find an outside-the-box solution, speak with a Schaumburg, IL family law attorney about whether birdnesting could be a good option for you.

What Does Birdnesting Mean?

When parents go through a divorce, and both have parenting time, a typical arrangement includes one of them staying in the family home and the other moving somewhere nearby. The child takes turns staying with each parent on the preappointed dates. It generally means that the child needs to make sure to bring important things for special days like their after-school activities or special school projects.

There is another option, but it is only relevant for parents able to communicate in a healthy and productive way and work together for their child’s sake. When a family decides to "birdnest", the child has one residence. Instead of moving back and forth between the parents’ homes, the child stays put, and the parents take turns staying in that home. For days when it is not their time with their child, the parents have  two options:

• Each parent has their own secondary residence.
• The parents find a second home that they also share, although they never stay there together since one will only be there when the other is in their original home with their child, and vice versa.

The first option certainly allows for more privacy and individual lives, but the second option is significantly cheaper.

Either way, birdnesting cannot work if the parents have a toxic, high-conflict dynamic. Although it is slowly increasing in popularity, birdnesting is still much less common than each parent living in their own separate place and having the child move back and forth. However, if you and your spouse can figure out a birdnesting arrangement that you are comfortable with, it could help your child feel a sense of stability that is generally lacking when parents get divorced.

Contact a Schaumburg, IL Family Law Attorney

If you and your spouse are looking for a custody and visitation arrangement that maintains as much stability as possible for your child, speak with an experienced Schaumburg, IL divorce lawyer about birdnesting. At A. Traub & Associates, we know that people are unique and there is no one-size-fits-all model for divorce and custody. We are passionate about helping our clients find creative solutions that truly suit their needs. Call 630-426-0196 for a private consultation.